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Posted by
Ian Clarke,
May 27, 2011 |
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Kansas City: Kansas City, Kansas
Record: 1-2-6, 5 points, 9th in Eastern Conference
Goalscorer: Kei Kamara, Teal Bunbury, 3 goals
Playmaker: Kei Kamara, Teal Bunbury, 2 assists
Players to watch: Jimmy Neilsen, GK, Davy Arnaud, M, Omar Bravo, F
First thoughts
Usually for a match like this, an expression surrounding the comforts and advantage to being in a home stadium would be employed. However, after last weekend’s 6-2 destruction at the hands of one of the worst road teams in MLS, the term ‘home sweet home’ just doesn’t seem right. TFC are hosting another woeful and weary away side in Sporting Kansas City, and everything about this opponent says the Reds have a good chance to pick up all three points. Looking beyond their place in the table, and adding in the personnel Toronto have lost to international duty and injuries, this match is beginning to look more and more like it could be a repeat of last weekend rather than a break out match to turn the season around.
Keep thinking
Would anyone have thought that at the start of the year Toronto’s hopes would rise or fall on the shoulders of Adrian Cann? This should give an indication on how poorly the side has been built that his season ending injury this week has all but confirmed that the back line are so far out of their depth that until a suitable replacement is found, conceding goals looks to be a forgone conclusion. Philadelphia reinforced this in a bizarre case of foreshadowing that Cann’s absence has proven that the options available in the centre back position are not up to the task of competing at the MLS level.
Added to Toronto’s defensive woes is that Cann’s partner, Dicoy Williams, and over-relied upon outlet Julian De Guzman are away on international duties. The only small beacon of hope is that Joao Plata did not stay with Ecuador on their North American tour and is available for Saturday’s fixture.
At first glance Kansas City looks like the perfect opponent to wipe out last weekend’s debacle. One win, five points total, by far the worst team in the league right now … right? Well, maybe not.
Waiting for their new stadium to be completed, Kansas City opted to start the season not playing a home game until June. Their record away from home is nothing to get excited about, however, when looking at their stats compared to Philadelphia away from home, KC begins to look like a serious threat.
While Toronto look comfortably seven points ahead of their opponent in the table, they have four games in hand. With this four-match advantage in mind, Toronto has only been able to score one more goal than Kansas City. Despite having their share of players out of the line-up, most notably Kei Kamara and Stephane Auvray to international duty, they are still dangerous inside the 18-yard box and from distance.
TFC are hurting on all fronts and it may take the return of Alan Gordon to give them any chance of shifting the balance to a more level playing field. Gordon has been the ideal #9 and platform for Aron Winter to run his 4-3-3 and prior to his injury had begun to form real chemistry with Joao Plata, Michel Yourassowsky and Oscar Cordon.
Almost a year ago to the day, this fixture represented the turning point in Toronto FC’s season. A rough start to the campaign that smoothed out and had begun to find it’s feet was derailed in a lackluster 0-0 draw with Kansas City that was the starting point for everything falling apart. Now a year later, it looks like everything has fallen apart and it’s a matter of just picking themselves up. Could this match, when things can’t be any worse, become the turning point for the 2011 season?
Toronto will be put to the test as Kansas City still has a strong core of their players. Teal Bunbury, Omar Bravo, Davy Arnaud, Ryan Smith – all key attackers, are on hand to test out whoever TFC put in defence. The Reds only hope in this one is to come out swinging and put their opponent against the ropes early. If they can get some damage done in the initial stages and then lock down the midfield where Kansas City’s strength lies, their chance of not just looking competitive, but maybe even getting a point is greatly increased.
In the end
There are now few, if any, opponents in the league that one can truly look at and say this is a guaranteed three points for Toronto, even at home. Philadelphia exposed the frailty of Aron Winter’s side and now any team who come into BMO Field must be smelling blood. The fact that Toronto are now missing Adrian Cann, Dicoy Williams and Julian De Guzman is a massive blow to their competitiveness, and the only real hope of regaining it is if Alan Gordan is healthy by kick off. Kansas City look poor in the table, but are more balanced and cohesive than TFC. While the Reds have likely been able to regain their composure and prepare effectively with a week off, their lack of quality depth will hurt them in this match. It won’t be déjà vu all over again, but there are few signs indicating Toronto can come out of this one unscathed.
Prediction:
Kansas City 2 – Toronto FC 1
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